Paraguay: Ruta del Mate
A 25-Day Exploration of Local Traditions, Nature, and Service in Rural Paraguay
Proyecto Resumen
Experience Paraguay through community life, cultural exchange, conservation, and travel. Begin with a homestay in a rural community, sharing daily life, practicing Spanish, connecting with local youth, and joining service activities alongside community members.
Then, journey with your group and Paraguayan youth leaders to the Mbaracayú Forest Nature Reserve. Explore the region’s biodiversity, learn about yerba mate, take part in hands‑on conservation projects, and spend time with students who live and study in the reserve.
The program closes in eastern Paraguay with excursions to Iguazú Falls in Brazil and the Itaipú Hydroelectric Plant on the Paraguay‑Brazil border.
Capacitación y preparación
Empieza fuerte, mantén la confianza.
Explore projects offer a guided experience with support, so training equips you to engage respectfully and safely with your host community.
Voluntarios Nacionales:
curso en línea a su propio ritmo de 3 a 5 horas (aproximadamente un mes antes de la salida)
Seminario web sobre información del proyecto (PIP)
Familiar asiste a seminario web sobre salud y seguridad
Voluntarios del capítulo local:
Capacitación presencial del capítulo (feb-may)
Breve cuestionario de conceptos en línea (mediados de mayo)
Seminario web sobre información del proyecto (PIP)
Familiar asiste a seminario web sobre salud y seguridad
Ready to lead, ready to explore! Once you land, you’ll spend 3-4 days getting grounded. Orientation introduces you to local culture, daily life, and your community assignment. Project staff lead sessions on health, safety, and project activities and expectations so you feel confident and prepared before diving into the local community.
Closing strong, Carrying forward! In your final two nights, you’ll come together with fellow volunteers to reflect, celebrate, and prepare for the journey home. Debriefing helps you process your experience, navigate reverse culture shock, and wrap up travel logistics. It’s a supportive space to share growth and learn how to tell your story to family and friends.
Qué hacer Esperar
Vive más, descúbrete a ti mismo.
AMIGOS projects are designed to challenge and inspire. You’ll dive into hands‑on activities, connect with local communities, live with a host family, and experience life tech‑free. Every moment builds connection, leadership, and friendships that last far beyond the program.
A look at what volunteers do in the Ruta del Mate project.
- SERVICIO
- Develop and implement a service project in your community with the Local Youth Leaders (LYLs) and community members.
- Facilitate fun and educational activities, Recreos, for kids 5 days a week with the LYLs.
- CONEXIÓN E INMERSIÓN
- See your AMIGOS peers every day and share the experience together.
- Join fun activities and games with local youth.
- Help clean rivers and streams and support efforts to control invasive species.
- Take part in workshops to learn about Paraguay’s environmental conservation.
- Travel to one of the Seven Wonders of the World — Iguazú Falls — and visit the Itaipú Dam.
Los voluntarios desarrollan conexiones con las personas que hacen posible cada proyecto: familias anfitrionas, jóvenes locales, miembros de la comunidad, organizaciones socias, el personal de AMIGOS y otros voluntarios. Estas relaciones son fundamentales para la experiencia de AMIGOS, ya que crean un espacio para el intercambio cultural, el aprendizaje compartido y el servicio colaborativo.
Vivir con una familia anfitriona lleva a los voluntarios más allá de la experiencia turística, ofreciendo un genuino sentido de pertenencia en la comunidad. Es la manera definitiva de mejorar rápidamente las habilidades en español y construir relaciones interculturales que a menudo duran toda la vida. Con 60 años de experiencia, AMIGOS evalúa rigurosamente a cada hogar mediante visitas domiciliarias en persona, entrevistas y capacitación obligatoria sobre salud y seguridad. Los supervisores del personal realizan visitas de seguimiento periódicas y brindan apoyo de emergencia las 24 horas, los 7 días de la semana.
“My host sister Sophia taught me so much about Paraguayan culture and Guaraní. We connected really well as friends and felt just like sisters.”
A lo largo de los años, hemos observado que los voluntarios que optan por una desconexión digital total informan una mayor satisfacción, vínculos comunitarios más fuertes y menos casos de nostalgia o angustia emocional. Nuestra experiencia, respaldada por investigaciones emergentes sobre el uso de la tecnología y la salud mental, demuestra que desconectarse de los dispositivos permite a los voluntarios conectarse más profundamente consigo mismos, con sus compañeros y con sus comunidades de acogida.
Política Integral de Tecnología¿Tienes curiosidad sobre la experiencia diaria? Explora un itinerario de ejemplo para este viaje.
Seguridad y Soporte
With AMIGOS, you’ll receive pre-departure training either with your local chapter or online in cultural understanding, health and safety, community development practices, leadership, and team building. Our training curriculum prepares students to manage projects, organize community members, solve problems, accept responsibility, and learn from others. You’ll get hands-on experience to gain skills necessary to succeed in our projects.
Once you arrive abroad, you’ll spend a few days in what we call “briefing.” This is a chance to meet everyone on your project. This part of your journey is led by your in-country staff team, who will introduce you to the specifics of your country and your project, as well as prepare you to live in your host community.
Costo y Ayuda Financiera
Las tarifas del programa cubren todos los costos esenciales, incluidos el alojamiento con familias anfitrionas, las comidas locales, el transporte dentro del país, las excursiones grupales y una red de apoyo de emergencia 24/7. Qué está incluido:
- 25 days of immersive programming and activities
- Todas las comidas y el alojamiento
- Transporte dentro del país
- sistema de seguridad y soporte 24/7
- Antes de la salida y capacitación, en línea o en persona
Lo que no está incluido: vuelos, protección de viaje, equipo.
Más sobre aranceles y financiamientoNuestros precios transparentes y con todo incluido y nuestra ayuda financiera flexible opciones de recaudación de fondos maximice el valor para su familia.
Voces de los participantes
Preguntado frecuentemente Preguntas
Ruta del Mate is perfect for students who want variety in their experience. You’ll build relationships with a host family and community while also traveling, living closely with your group, spending time outdoors, and trying new activities.
This project is especially suited for students who are curious about different cultures, interested in nature and sustainability, and comfortable learning by doing. If you’re excited to practice Spanish, experience Guaraní culture, connect with Paraguayan youth leaders, and explore different parts of the country as part of a team, Ruta del Mate offers that balance.
Ruta del Mate combines community immersion with environmental learning and youth exchange in a way no other project does. You’ll experience everyday rural life with host families, then shift to the Mbaracayú Forest Nature Reserve — one of Paraguay’s most important natural landscapes — where conservation, biodiversity, and yerba mate cultivation come to life. Service in the garden and work on invasive species are paired with cultural activities and time alongside Paraguayan students, creating a balance of hands‑on impact and cross‑cultural connection.
The journey closes with two unforgettable contrasts: the natural wonder of Iguazú Falls and the engineering marvel of the Itaipú Dam. Each setting adds a new perspective on Paraguay, making Ruta del Mate a uniquely multifaceted experience.
AMIGOS began its work in Paraguay in 1972 in partnership with the Ministry of Health, focusing on immunizations and community sanitation. In 1993, these initiatives expanded into separate projects — one based in Asunción and another in nearby regions.
By 2011, our work shifted toward youth leadership and extracurricular education, reflecting a broader organizational focus. AMIGOS ran open‑enrollment summer programs in Paraguay through 2017 and proudly relaunched in 2024, continuing a legacy of community partnership and youth empowerment.
Yes! Receive college credit for joining this project! Learn more Aquí.
You can earn 60 service hours on this program.
Home away from home
You’ll experience both group and family living. At the beginning, during Camp, and at the end of the project, the whole group stays together in dorm‑style lodging. For most of the program, volunteers are split into groups of up to six and placed with host families — either independently or with one partner. An AMIGOS staff member is regularly present in the communities, ensuring support while you immerse yourself in daily life.
Most food will be home‑cooked, typical Paraguayan dishes featuring staples like meat, corn, and rice. You’ll get to try local favorites such as:
Borí Borí — corn flour and cheese dumplings served in a fresh vegetable or chicken broth.
Chipa — a savory, cheesy scone.
Sopa Paraguaya — a unique cornmeal‑based bread.
This project is best suited for volunteers who eat meat, as vegetarian diets cannot be accommodated by host families.
In Paraguay’s winter, daytime temperatures range from 50°F to 77°F, with occasional warmer days in the mid‑80s and cold snaps dropping into the 40s at night. Humidity and rain are common, and homes often feel colder indoors without heating. Communities are near urban areas but remain small and close‑knit, with flat red‑dirt roads that are easy to walk. The region is more forested, shaped by nearby natural reserves.
Jopara (Yopará): A blend of Guaraní and Spanish, widely spoken in the region.
Tranquilopa / Tranquilo nomá: A local phrase meaning “it’s all good, relax, don’t worry” — the Paraguayan version of hakuna matata.
Tereré: The cold version of mate, Paraguay’s national herbal drink, shared socially throughout the day.
Guapo / Guapa: A compliment for being hardworking — if someone calls you guapo or guapa, you’re on their good side!
AMIGOS uses an Asset‑Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, meaning service activities respond to the priorities of each community. For Explore programs, AMIGOS works with partner agencies and local leaders in advance to identify needs. Volunteers then join to support these efforts through hands‑on service and connection.
Past service activities have included:
Cleaning and revamping partner agency headquarters
Community clean‑ups
Beautification projects (painting, planting, signage)
Working in community gardens
Reforestation and environmental conservation activities
Because service activities are prepared ahead of time, volunteers focus on participation and teamwork, building relationships with local youth while contributing to meaningful community efforts.
Ideal for volunteers who want variety, the Paraguay: Ruta del Mate project combines rural community life, environmental learning, and youth exchange. Volunteers live with host families, collaborate with local youth on service projects, explore the Mbaracayú Forest Nature Reserve, and experience Paraguayan traditions from Guaraní culture to yerba mate.
- Meet the health criteria for AMIGOS participation
- Receive required immunizations
- Be age 15–19 on the project start date
- 1 year of Spanish or equivalent
- Passport valid 6 months after project start date
- Complete pre-departure training, online or in-person
